Novak Djokovic wasn't happy about the crowd behavior in his last match at the 2023 Roland Garros, and he made his feelings known.
After his third-round victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the 2023 Roland Garros, the Serb opened up about his relationship with the Paris crowd. His comments came after Djokovic was booed after he elected to take a medical time-out in his third-round match.
After having to play a tie-break in both of his first two matches at the event, against Aleksandar Kovacevic and Marton Fucsovics, the Serbian legend had to play two tie-breaks to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round of the tournament 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 6-2.
But it wasn't smooth sailing. He needed a medical timeout, and after getting that, the crowd in the French capital booed him. Following the match, he was asked about his relationship with the crowd.
"Up and down, I would say, throughout my career. They gave me a lot of support I think the years where I was losing in finals or, you know, the last couple of steps before winning a title. Those years, you know, I received quite a lot of support and love, and I was very grateful for that. I have wonderful memories."
However, Djokovic also recognized that there are two types of tennis fans. Some come to enjoy a tennis match and support one of the players, and then some are looking to insert themselves by booing the players for whatever reason.
"I still get support, you know, even today. I think majority of the people comes to enjoy tennis or support one or the other player. But they are individuals."
"You know, they are people, they're groups or whatever, that love to boo every single thing you do. That's something that I find disrespectful and I frankly don't understand that. But it's their right. They paid the ticket. They can do whatever they want."
Djokovic knows that how he reacts to such situations is entirely in his control. While he chooses to stay silent most of the time, he is also known for being able to respond to disrespectful crowd members.
"At times, you know, I will stay quiet. Not at times. Actually 99% of the time I will stay quiet. Sometimes I will oppose that, because I feel when somebody is disrespectful, you know, he or she deserves to have an answer to that. That's what it is all about."